plans? at a time like this?

sml and i took a short trip to vancouver, bc, over the weekend. it is a relatively short drive from seattle, except for the part where the line at the border is endless and time loses all meaning.

the border security officer asked what i planned to do in vancouver, and i genuinely did not understand the question.

plans? at a time like this?

he said i must have done some research. i had not. my research began and ended with staying near davie street.

somehow, despite this total lack of preparedness, we ended up seeing the harbor and walking along the seawall. vancouver made a very convincing case for simply wandering around until something interesting appeared.

we also crossed a suspension bridge over a canyon and completed a small hike, which sounds suspiciously like a plan when written down after the fact.

the standout moment, though, was when i suggested taking the ferry to granville island. we walked down to the water expecting a ferry, and the littlest thing came to pick us up. it presented itself like a cartoon: tiny boat, captain in the middle, enormous wheel.

so, for the record: no plans, no research, one canyon, one tiny ferry, and a very good weekend.